Opportunity to help re-design Commonwealth Grants

The Australian Government is committed to developing a stronger, more diverse and independent community sector.

As part of this commitment, the Department of Social Services (DSS) has been working with partner agencies to consider how the Government can strengthen support for the community sector including ex-service and community organisations.

The DSS has released an Issues Paper seeking public feedback on innovative approaches on the design and administration of grants to the community sector.

This is an important issue for the veteran community. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs administers several grants programs with various objectives from helping to commemorate Australia’s wartime heritage, to supporting organisations deliver services and projects for veterans and their families, and helping students whose parent or grandparent is a veteran.

This is your opportunity to provide the government feedback about the grants process.

The focus areas for consideration in the Issues Paper are:

• Giving the sector the voice and respect it deserves through a meaningful working partnership.

• Providing grants that reflect the real cost of delivering quality services.

• Providing longer grant agreement terms.

• Ensuring grant funding flows to a greater diversity of Community Service Organisations.

• Partnering with trusted community organisations with strong local links.

Your feedback is important. It will help inform a package of recommendations for government consideration, on new approaches to grant funding that will support both short and longer-term reform to the operation of grants. Consultation closes on 7 November 2023. To read the paper and make a submission, please visit: https://engage.dss.gov.au/a-stronger-more-diverse-and-independent-community-sector/

And for more information on the grants currently offered through DVA, please visit: www.dva.gov.au/about/overview/consultations-and-grants/grants-and-bursaries/overview-our-grant-programs